Moral Dilemma #3 - Drug Bust

[lily.]

3. Drug Bust

You are on holiday in Bali with your 18 year old son and wife. You have been there for a week and are ready to head home. All three of you are at the airport getting ready to board your plane, when an armed officer comes around with a sniffer dog. You have all your bags on a trolley, and the dog sniffs at both your wife and your bag, and passes over it, however when he gets to your sons bag, he begins to get a bit more active.

You look over at your son and he’s looking a little nervous. You know he’s smoked a little marijuana in his time, but generally, he’s a good kid, and you certainly didn’t think he’d actually be stupid enough to bring it back on the plane with him. At first you feel angry that he would do such a thing and start planning your responsibility lecture, but then you realize that you are in Bali, and they have a zero tolerance policy on drugs, meaning your son could be jailed for life, or worse, executed, if he does have some illicit materials in his bag.

You look at your wife and realize she has come to the same conclusion and has gone pale with fear.

The armed officer accompanying the dog is beginning to look more stern with every sniff the dog takes and looks directly at you and asks you to open to the bag.

You do, and as the officer begins to take things out of the bag, you see to your horror that there is a small quantity of marijuana stashed in with your sons belongings.

The officer looks at you and asks “Who’s bag is this?”

You realize you have to answer, but the answer won’t be easy. You see your wife in the corner of your eye, and she is about to step forward and claim it as her own; what do you say?



Source: Top 10 Moral Dilemmas (http://listverse.com/2007/10/21/top-10-moral-dilemmas/)

[Benjamin]

I'd claim it as mine.

[MTVN]

I'd say nothing, no way am I going to prison for my idiot kid

[lostalex]

Well i've actually been in a situation similar to this, with my brother, so i already know what i would do, cause i've done it.

I got busted with my brother and one of his friends when i was 18, and my brother and his friend were 17. We were smoking in my car in a parking lot. The cops pulled up, and my brother had a bag of weed in his bookbag. I knew that i'd get charged anyway for it being in my car, so i took credit for for it and said it was mine so that my brother didn't get charged. It was a no brainer.

That's just my brother, if it was my son i'm sure i would have even less hesitation.

[Ammi]

I'd have to claim it is mine, I couldn't live with the alternative

[Kate!]

I would claim the bag as mine.

[Niamh.]

I would say it's mine

[InOne]

Call a good lawyer.

[Crimson Dynamo]

An 18 year old going on holiday with his mum and dad?

that in itself is a bigger dilemma

[Tom4784]

I'd call a solicitor and get the Brittish Embassy on the phone and do my best to cause an international incident. Then again no offspring of mine would be so stupid.

[lostalex]

I'd call a solicitor and get the Brittish Embassy on the phone and do my best to cause an international incident. Then again no offspring of mine would be so stupid.

yea, cause a media circus, that'd be smart, then it would be all over indonesian tv, "the brits think they are above the law!!!" then they'd prolly punish you even more, just to satisfy the baying mobs.

[Tom4784]

yea, cause a media circus, that'd be smart, then it would be all over indonesian tv, "the brits think they are above the law!!!" then they'd prolly punish you even more, just to satisfy the baying mobs.

You'd potentially save your son's life though as they wouldn't risk an international backlash. By causing a stir you could at least increase your chances of getting a fair trial in your own country.

[Z]

I don't have children so perhaps my answer would be different if I did; but if he was stupid enough to do this he should deal with the consequences of his actions rather than suffer guilt over his own stupid choice. And I'd try to kick up an international fuss like someone said in an earlier post too, I guess.

[Marc]

I wouldn't claim it as mine. There is no way I'd go to jail :hugesmile: bye son

[Jack_]

No chance on earth that I'd risk execution for someone else's actions. If it were prison in this country perhaps I'd consider it but otherwise it wouldn't be happening.

[Niamh.]

No chance on earth that I'd risk execution for someone else's actions. If it were prison in this country perhaps I'd consider it but otherwise it wouldn't be happening.

It's not just someone else though, it's your son, your baby, plus if you don't, your wife will

[Z]

It's not just someone else though, it's your son, your baby, plus if you don't, your wife will

Oh you're right, I forgot about the wife when I answered... tbh the wife and I are in interchangeable positions, if I went to take responsibility for it I assume she would try and stop me from doing so because she's about to do it for our son... that is really hard.

[Jesus.]

I think only parents can honestly answer this, of which I'm not one.

I remember my dad telling me that when he saw me for the first time I was born, he knew instantly he was capable of murder if someone ever laid a finger on me. The love a parent has for a child is different to any other bond.

I believe most of us would take the wrap for our children. I'd at least like to believe that I would.

[Niall]

I'd offer myself. I don't have kids, but I know that if I ever do, I could never let one of them get sent down, or even killed if I had the chance to stop it from happening.

[Jack_]

It's not just someone else though, it's your son, your baby, plus if you don't, your wife will

My wife wouldn't, because I'd interrupt her straight away before she was about to speak up and say 'it's my sons'.

Half of me thinks that I'd tell them it's mine in order to save my son, but see I'm terrified of the idea of execution. If it were some death tablets that killed me humanely perhaps I'd consider it but if it were brutal and barbaric the fear of it would be enough for me to say no.

It's a difficult one though, and the balance for me would lie with whether or not I'd face execution.

[MTVN]

I really don't think he'd be executed for a little bit of weed in his bag, probably just a few years in an Indonesian slammer, might do him some good, get him back on the straight and narrow

[Josy]

Let the son do the couple of years jail time, they would know with the clothes in the bag whos weed it was anyway :shrug:

[Locke.]

You are all forgetting the wife is about to claim it as hers and go to jail :nono:

[Jesus.]

You are all forgetting the wife is about to claim it as hers and go to jail :nono:

You're saying that like there is a downside!! :joker:

[Josy]

You are all forgetting the wife is about to claim it as hers and go to jail :nono:

Well unless the wife wears an 18 year old boys clothes then I'm sure she would be found out, the weed is among the boys things.

[Niamh.]

My wife wouldn't, because I'd interrupt her straight away before she was about to speak up and say 'it's my sons'.

Half of me thinks that I'd tell them it's mine in order to save my son, but see I'm terrified of the idea of execution. If it were some death tablets that killed me humanely perhaps I'd consider it but if it were brutal and barbaric the fear of it would be enough for me to say no.

It's a difficult one though, and the balance for me would lie with whether or not I'd face execution.

If you did that though your wife might never forgive you, especially if something really bad happened to your son afterwards. I think you would have to let that choice up to your wife, which, as a mother, should be her right. I know I wouldn't appreciate someone taking away my chance to protect my child.

I really don't think he'd be executed for a little bit of weed in his bag, probably just a few years in an Indonesian slammer, might do him some good, get him back on the straight and narrow

Just a few years in an Indonesian slammer..........that could kill you or mess you up for life!

[Niamh.]

Well unless the wife wears an 18 year old boys clothes then I'm sure she would be found out, the weed is among the boys things.

All she'd have to say is, I did the packing and I put it in that bag

[Josy]

All she'd have to say is, I did the packing and I put it in that bag

Would they really believe she had planted it in her sons bag though?

But if she wants to take the blame so be it, let her do the jail time.

[Niamh.]

Would they really believe she had planted it in her sons bag though?

But if she wants to take the blame so be it, let her do the jail time.

It doesn't matter, If she confesses to it how are they going to prove she didn't?

[Josy]

It doesn't matter, If she confesses to it how are they going to prove she didn't?

Well either way makes no difference if she wants to take the blame and do jail time for something her son was stupid enough to do then thats up to her.

[Niamh.]

Well either way makes no difference if she wants to take the blame and do jail time for something her son was stupid enough to do then thats up to her.

I think it'd be the fact of where the jail is, he could end up dead or in prison for life because of it. It's all well and good saying well he was stupid enough to get himself into the situation etc but If it was your child, I don't think that would give you any comfort and you would try to protect them, no matter what.

[lily.]

I'd tell the police that I packed all the bags, and did not put the weed in there.

I'd plead ignorance to it's existence. My defence would rely on me claiming someone had planted it on me at the airport or the hotel.

I'd make sure the rest of my family didn't take any of the blame. If I had to face the jail-time or the death penalty, so be it.

Actually, after thinking about that, they might try to claim my kid put it in there, so he'd still be in trouble.. So maybe.. I'd better just say it's mine, I packed it, I knew it was there and let that be it.

[Niamh.]

I'd tell the police that I packed all the bags, and did not put the weed in there.

I'd plead ignorance to it's existence. My defence would rely on me claiming someone had planted it on me at the airport or the hotel.

I'd make sure the rest of my family didn't take any of the blame. If I had to face the jail-time or the death penalty, so be it.

Actually, after thinking about that, they might try to claim my kid put it in there, so he'd still be in trouble.. So maybe.. I'd better just say it's mine, I packed it, I knew it was there and let that be it.

Yeah, especially if it were in his bag, then they'd definitely think it was him, just because you packed the bags, doesn't mean he didn't put it in there

[lostalex]

so yu guys are more worrying about gaming the system. Both yu and yur son would be in jail then. stupid.

[Niamh.]

so yu guys are more worrying about gaming the system. Both yu and yur son would be in jail then. stupid.

What does gaming the system mean? :suspect:

[Doogle]

I'd say it was mine, then assuming I get out okay I'd go mental at my son..

[lily.]

I think 'gaming the system' means finding a way to talk your way out of it.

[Jords]

Id say it was my son's and tell them that the wife is covering up, Id be so mad at the fooker but of course feel guilty as its my son. Not fair to take such drastic consequences off the back of somebody's elses idiot actions though. Plus, my son wouldnt be able to live with what he done, and the wife would probably end up resenting him.

[Bollo]

I would interrupt and say it's my sons

[Niamh.]

I think 'gaming the system' means finding a way to talk your way out of it.

Oh right, thanks

[Niamh.]

Id say it was my son's and tell them that the wife is covering up, Id be so mad at the fooker but of course feel guilty as its my son. Not fair to take such drastic consequences off the back of somebody's elses idiot actions though. Plus, my son wouldnt be able to live with what he done, and the wife would probably end up resenting him.

and if something terrible happened to your son because of it or ended up dead, your wife would end up resenting you

[Brother Leon]

I've taken the wrap off my mum for my younger bro(was a one off he assured me :suspect:). This is nothing.

[Jords]

and if something terrible happened to your son because of it or ended up dead, your wife would end up resenting you

I dont think she would half as much because its the son's own doing. Course it will take time but if the wife and husband are strong they will eventually be able to cope. And there is always the possibility that the son would get a lighter punishment because of age.

[Niamh.]

I dont think she would half as much because its the son's own doing. Course it will take time but if the wife and husband are strong they will eventually be able to cope. And there is always the possibility that the son would get a lighter punishment because of age.

I don't think so, I think if my husband stopped me saving my son and he died or was seriously hurt because of it, I would never get over it.

PS lol at our moral clashes :laugh:

[Jords]

:laugh:

I think its age and that you have children of your own, I can see how it probably would differ.

[Niamh.]

:laugh:

I think its age and that you have children of your own, I can see how it probably would differ.

Yeah, probably. I mean if he was caught in Ireland or Britain, I'd definitely let him take the blame, it's just how dangerous and unfair those places can be would worry me

[Ramsay]

I'd be more confused at the thought of getting the death penalty or life in jail over a bag of weed
But i dunno what i'd do as i have no kids

[lostalex]

Yeah, probably. I mean if he was caught in Ireland or Britain, I'd definitely let him take the blame, it's just how dangerous and unfair those places can be would worry me

Seriously! i wouldn't even let my kids leave the state, let alone the country, not even to Canada.

When i was in HS one of good friends went on the senior trip just down to TJ, and she was gang raped.

There's no way i'd let my kids leave the country. No way in hell.

They canm do all the traveling they want when they work for the state department, until then ain't gonna have a passport,k sorry!

This country is big enuf for you to explore until yu turn 18.

[GypsyGoth]

I don't think there is a choice other than to claim it.

[Angus]

It doesn't matter, If she confesses to it how are they going to prove she didn't?


They can do hair follicle tests to detect who uses marijuana - that is if they can be a*sed when they've already got a fall guy willing to confess. Oh, and I would willingly confess to save my son who of course, would have a lifetime of guilt because I'd done his time, or was executed. It's a lose/lose situation.

[lily.]

I'd let him take the rap for it if it were the UK, because our laws are more reasonable, and tbh, he's likely get a £40 on the spot fine for a personal-use amount of weed.

But, in those countries, I couldn't take the chance.